Fried Chicken: Paula-Style

Paula’s fried chicken is the stuff of legends. It really is the best fried chicken we’ve ever had. The best part about it? Her recipe is no secret. You too can make it at home just by following these steps. Ready to surprise your loved ones with a fried chicken dinner? Be our guest, y’all!

What you’ll need:

Paula Deen’s House Seasoning

2 ½ lbs. chicken, cut into pieces

2 cups self-rising flour

1 cup hot red pepper sauce

3 eggs

Peanut oil

A deep pot

2 medium-sized bowls

How to make it:

Heat the oil to 350 °F in a deep pot. Do not fill the pot more than 1/2 full with oil.

In a medium size bowl, beat the eggs.

Add enough hot sauce so the egg mixture is bright orange (about 1 cup). The heat will cook out of the hot sauce, leaving all that delicious flavor behind.

Season the chicken with the House Seasoning.

Dip the seasoned chicken in the egg, and then coat well in the flour.

Place the chicken in the preheated oil and fry the chicken in the oil until brown and crisp. Dark meat takes longer than white meat.

Approximate cooking time is 13 to 14 minutes for dark meat and 8 to 10 minutes for white meat.

Paula’s tips:

If you’re cooking the fried chicken for dinner, season it in the morning. Let it sit in the fridge all day to soak up the flavors of the seasoning.

Before frying the chicken, bring it close to room temperature. This will help to avoid a drop in the oil temperature. Cold chicken can make regulating the oil temperature a difficult task.

Now that our mouths are watering, we’re going to make some for ourselves—maybe with some homemade cornbread and collard greens. What do you like to serve with your fried chicken? Sound off in the comments below!